METHOD FOR LAYING UP PREPREG PLY ON FORMING TOOL USING DEFORMABLE CARRIER FILM

• Main Authors: MODIN ANDREW E, WILLDEN KURTIS S, KISMARTON MAX U, HAWKINS ROBERT D, GLAIN MICHAEL L, DEPASE EDOARDO, MUSSI BENJAMIN ADAM
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 31.05.2012
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING; INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDEDFOR; SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; TRANSPORTING; WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE, IN GENERAL

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for laying up a composite layer on a forming tool, closely conformable of the layer to contours of the tool while accurately positioning the layer by deforming the layer in application of the layer to the tool, and a method for handling and transporting a layer material, capable of keeping the layer material in a stable state during transportation and lamination.SOLUTION: Composite prepreg is laid up over a tool by placing a prepreg material on a carrier film and using the carrier film to apply the prepreg material to the tool. The prepreg is conformed to the contours of the tool by deforming the carrier film.